Stay Out of This
Lorenzo stepped out into the hallway, pulling the door shut behind him. Mia could barely make out the low murmur of voices, but she knewâwhatever was happening, it wasn't good.
Her pulse pounded in her ears as she gripped the edge of the counter, forcing herself to stay put.
Minutes stretched.
Then, the door swung open, and Lorenzo stepped back inside, his jaw tight, his entire body coiled with tension.
Mia crossed her arms. "What's going on?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," he said, his voice firm.
Wrong answer.
Mia narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, see... that doesn't work for me."
Lorenzo let out a slow exhale, rubbing a hand down his face like he was already tired of the conversation.
"Mia."
"No." She took a step closer. "You don't get to shut me outânot after last night. You don't get to treat me like I'm just some woman who wandered into your life. You made a choice, Lorenzo. We both did. So, what the hell is going on?"
His gaze flickered, something dark passing through it.
She could see itâthe battle inside him.
She had seen it before, but now? Now she was part of the equation.
Lorenzo stepped toward her, towering over her, his presence swallowing the space between them.
"You think I don't know that?" His voice was quiet, but there was something dangerous laced in itâsomething raw.
"You think I don't know what it means that I let you in?"
Mia swallowed. "Then stop acting like I'm some fragile little thing you need to protect from your world."
His hand shot out, gripping her chin gently but firmly, tilting her face up to meet his. His dark eyes burned into hers.
"That's exactly what you are," he murmured. "And that's the problem."
Her breath caught.
"You don't belong in this, Mia. You don't belong in my world. And if I let you get too deep, if I don't protect youâ"
His voice faltered for the briefest second before he clenched his jaw. "You won't make it out."
Mia's heart squeezed.
It wasn't just a warning.
It was a plea.
She placed her hands on his chest, feeling the tension rippling beneath his skin. "And what if I don't want out?"
A muscle in his jaw twitched. "Then I'll make the choice for you."
Mia barely had time to process his words before he was movingâgrabbing a jacket off the chair, pulling out his phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Taking you home." His tone left no room for argument. "You're going back to your apartment. And you're going to stay there."
Mia bristled. "Excuse me?"
Lorenzo turned, his expression deadly serious. "Mia. This is not up for discussion."
Anger flared inside her, but before she could snap back, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, cursed under his breath, and answered.
"I'm handling it," he said. A pause. His eyes flickered to Mia before he turned away.
"No. She's not involved."
Mia's stomach twisted.
He was trying to push her away.
But what if it was already too late?